Foldable sales demonstrator for rotatable shelves



March 2%, 1951 P.'H. FRICK FOLDABLE SALES DEMONSTRATOR FOR ROTATABLE SHELVES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 14, 1950 INVENTOR 2 UL if; i zimg BY f /M f a ATT RNE;[

2Q, 1951 P. H. FRICK 5 9 FOLDA SALES DEMONSTRATOR F0 OTATABLE SHELVES Filed March 14, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1rv v QNTOR AT'T RNEY Patented Mar. 20,1951

FOLDABLE SALES DEMONSTRATOR F ROTATABLE SHE-LVES Paul'H. Fric'k, Wynnewood', Pa., 'assignor'to The Frick'. Gallagher Manufacturing Company,

Wellston, Ohio, a corporation o'fOhi'o ApplicationMarch'M, 1950, Serial-N0.-149,610 7 Claims.

Thisinvention relates to demonstration devices and is more particularly concerned with the provision ofa device which can be used-to demonstrate to prospective customers the .savings in floor space which may be effected by the installation of so-called rotary bins orshelvesin lieu of .the conventional type of rectangular shelves.

The general object .ofthis invention is to provide a device of the'type. mentioned whichcan be readily carried about by .a person from place toplace, particularlyan itinerant salesman and which produces a graphic illustration of the advantages of the rotary type bins in contrast to theconventional rectangular type shelves in a manner which is much more effective and much more readily understood than complicated mathematical figures.

Another object of the invention is the provision of such a device in the form of a book and which, when opened, actuates through mechanical means a model of a layout of conventional rectangular shelves on a typical floor space and also a model of a layout of rotary bins of the same capacity on a floor space of the same size and shape. v

A still further object is the provision of such a device which is simple in construction, easy to manufacture and which is not likely to become damaged when not in use.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description considered together with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is an isometric view of an embodiment of the invention in its closed position;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the same embodiment in its opened position;

Figure 3 is a section along the line 3-3 of Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is a section along the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Referring with more particularity to the drawing in which like numerals designate like parts the embodiment illustrated comprises two panels H and I2 which are hinged together on one side, the hinge line being designated by the numeral l3.

The inner faces of said panel are each provided with a recessed portion [4 and I5, respectively. These recessed portions are identical in size and shape, preferably rectangular, although other shapes may be employed if desired. These recesses represent typical storage areas.

Within the recess l 4 there are disposed a group of members l6 representing to scale a layout of rectangular shelving units. In the recess l5 there are disposed other units l1 representing to scale a'layout o'f rotary bins the total represented capacity being equivalent to that of the rectangular shelves represented by the members [6.

The members It and .i'! are rectangular in cross section having each vertical sides l8 and i9 and a horizontal top 20. The bottom of the sides 18 and is are provided with flanges 2! and 22, respectively, which are secured to the bottom of the recesses by any suitable means, such as gluing, and are then covered .by glued strips '23. The members is and I! may be made of any suitable bendable material, such as cardboard, andare preferably secured to the bottom of their respective recesses so as to be biased in the direction indicated by the arrow 24 (see Figure 3) whereby they are normally urged to a folded or collapsed position against the floor of the recesses.

I The members l6 are connected at intervals to a longitudinal strip 25 so as to maintain all of said members it in parallel relation. Similarly, the members I! are secured at intervals to a longitudinal strip 26.

Each panel is provided with a recessed eyelet 21, 28, respectively, in alignment with the strips 25 and 26, respectively. A flexible cable, rope, string or other suitable means 29 is tied or secured at one end to the eyelet 28. The other end passes through the eyelet 2'! and is then tied or secured to the nearest of the members I 6. The length of the member 29 is such that it is taut when the panels H and I2 are in their fully opened position and the members 16 are in their upright position. A similar flexible member 30 is secured at one end to the eyelet 21 the other end passing through the eyelet 28 and being secured to the nearest of the members i I. The flexible member 30 is also taut when the panels II and [2 are in their fully opened position with the members I! erect.

A channel 3| is provided in the panels H and I2 between the eyelets 21 and 2B for the flexible members 29 and 30.

When the panels II and [2 are folded together, the members l6 and H are urged to a collapsed position and are pressed fiat by the closure of the panels as shown in Figure 4.

When the panels are opened, the flexible members 29 and Ell are drawn taut and exert a force on all the members it and I! through the strips 25 and 26, thus causing them to assume their upright or erect position as shown in Figures 2 and 3.

By these means, it may be seen that the device can be carried around as an ordinary book and when it is desired to perform a demonstration, it is only necessary to lay the device on a table and open the panels, whereupon the models automatically assume an upright position and readily indicate the saving in space effected by rotary bins represented by members I! in contrast to rectangular shelves represented by members 16.

Pictorial illustrations of the rotary bins and rectangular shelving may be applied to the surfaces of the members l6 and I! for a realistic efiect.

I claim:

1. A device for demonstrating the relative space requirements of rotar bins and rectangular shelves, comprising, a pair of panels hinged together at one side in the form of a book, the inner faces of said panels having delineated thereon areas of equal size and shape, a group of spaced members in one of said areas representing the space requirements of rectangular shelves of a given capacity, a group of spaced members in another of said areas representing the space requirements of rotary bins of the same given capacity, said members being foldable from an upright position to a flat position against the panels, and means for forcing said members to and holding them in an upright position when said panels are actuated to an open position.

2. A device for demonstrating the relative space requirements of rotary bins and rectangular shelves, comprising, a pair of panels hinged together at one side in the form of a book, the inner faces of said panels having recesses of equal size and shape, one of said recesses having a group of spaced members representing to scale the space requirements of rectangular shelves of a given capacity and another recess having a group of spaced members representing to scale the space requirements of rotary bins of the same given capacity, said members being foldable from an upright position to a substantially fiat position against the bottom of their respective recesses and means for automatically urging said members to and holding them in an upright position when said panels are in an open position.

3. A device for demonstrating the relative space requirements of rotary bins and rectangular shelves, comprising, a pair of panels hinged together at one side in the form of a book, the inner faces of each panel having delineated thereon areas of equal size and shape, a group of spaced members in one of said areas representing the space requirements of rectangular shelves of a given capacity, a group of spaced members in another of said areas representing the space requirements of rotary bins of the same given capacity, said members being foldable from an upright position to a flat position against the panels, means connecting the spaced members of each group together so as to move in unison, a flexible member for each group and an eyelet on each panel through which the flexible members operate, each flexible member having one end connected to its corresponding group and its other end to the opposite panel.

4. A device as defined by claim 1 in which the spaced members are rectangular in shape, hollow and of a bendable material.

5. A device as defined by claim 1 in which the spaced members are provided on their outer surfaces with pictorial illustrations of the objectsv which they represent.

PAUL H. FRICK,

No references cited. 

